DENR clears Bataan plants of air, water contamination.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has revealed that there was no contamination of air and water around a power plant and fuel refinery in Limay, Bataan.
These are San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) subsidiaries SMC Consolidated Power Corp. plant and Petron Bataan fuel Refinery’s coal-fired plant.
“The coastal water along PLT Cove was found as not contaminated with substances that could be attributed directly to Petron’s dumping of bottom ash in the area,” the DENR said.
DENR’s monitoring in January found no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
“Total suspended particulates and sulfur dioxide from air samples at the PEX site and Carbon Site were “within National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values,” DENR – Environment Management Bureau Central Luzon said.
The DENR-EMB added that ash disposal facilities of both PLT Cove and SMC are covered in soil, compacted and sealed with water for ash dispersion and deposition prevention in near communities.
3, 550 metric tons (MT) of ash were hauled out to SMC’s Northern Cement Consolidated in Pangasinan while 7.950 MT were treated, according to data from Petron Corp. Two bottom ash dump facilities inside the Petron Bataan Refinery (PBR) complex have not been used after DENR ordered the halt of dumping activities on the site.
In 2016, residents of Limay, Bataan accused the power plants of causing health problems because of an alleged ash spill in their storage facilities.
EMB Central Luzon will continue to assess the environment quality in Limay communities.